Malaysia eases police station dress rules after drawing flak

The decision was announced after a 56-year-old woman, identified only as Guo, was barred from entering the Jasin District Police Headquarters for wearing a knee-length skirt. She had been directed there to file a report following a highway collision, but a police officer told her she could not enter unless she changed her clothing.

Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim considered access to police services “non-negotiable,” adding no one should be prevented from seeking help over clothing. 

The Cabinet instructed Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar to review and revise a 2020 circular governing attire in government buildings. Fahmi said essential frontline services, especially health and security agencies, will be exempt once the updates are issued. Police stations will be included in this exemption.

He added that the chief secretary’s office is studying the matter and that an updated directive is expected “not too long from now.” The move represents a sharp shift from comments made just a day earlier by Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar, who had insisted the public must comply with the dress code unless facing a genuine emergency.

Guo’s case drew widespread attention after she recounted pleading with the officer to make an exception, explaining that she needed to report the accident urgently. She said the officer refused, citing fear of disciplinary action, and advised her to buy long trousers before returning.

The woman eventually purchased the required clothing in order to file her report. She said she had encountered similar issues at other government offices and questioned whether the same rules would apply in more serious cases. 

“If this weren’t a car accident but a murder case, would they still insist on this?” she asked.

Melaka police later confirmed that the woman was asked to change into “appropriate clothing” when she arrived to lodge the accident report. While public welfare remains a priority, they said the existing government circular had to be respected.

The incident prompted local leaders to call for action. Melaka state executive councillor Allex Seah Shoo Chin said he had contacted the state police chief to request an investigation into the handling of the case.

While dress standards are typically enforced in public buildings, critics argue that rigid application can hinder those seeking help and that clearer, more flexible guidelines are needed to prevent similar cases.